Nintendo Gamecube- console of the future (Nintendo GameCube)

Member Name: will r seymour

Product:	Nintendo GameCube
Date:	03/04/03 (666 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap, very portable, best console in the world

Disadvantages: no, look at the advantages, none, none

The Nintendo Gamecube in general
Console of the future


The Gamecube is the perfect gaming system, it?s amazing what Nintendo can do when they want to. I'll tell you about all the tech spec first (and for this great system, there's a lot of it).

Tech Spec: GCN detailed specs

MPU: custom IBM power PC "Gekko"
Manufacturing process: 0.18 Micron IBM copper wire technology
Clock Frequency: 485 MHz
CPU capacity: 1125 Dmips (Dhrystone 2.1)
Internal data precision: 32-bit Integer and 64-bit floating point
External bus: 1.3GB/second peak bandwidth (32-bit address space, 64-bit data bus 162 MHz clock)
Internal cache: L1: instruction 32 KB, data 32 KB (8 way) L2: 256 KB (2 way)
System LSI: custom ATI/ Nintendo ?Flipper?
Embedded frame buffer: Approx, 2MB sustainable latency: 6.2ns (1T - SRAM)
Embedded texture cache: Approx, 1MB sustainable latency: 6.2ns (1T ? SRAM)
Texture read bandwidth: 10.4GB/ second (peak)
Main memory bandwidth: 2.6 GB/ second (peak)
Pixel depth: 24-bit color, 24 ? bit Z buffer
Image processing functions: Fog, subpixel anti-aliasing, 8 hardware lights, alpha blending, virtual texture design, multi texturing, bump mapping, environment mapping, MIP mapping, bilinear filtering, trilinear filtering, anisotropic filtering, real time hardware texture decompression (S3TC), real time decompression of display list, HW-3 line deflickering filter.

Sound related functions:

Sound processor: Custom Macronix 16-bit DSP
Instruction memory: 8KB RAM + 8KB ROM
Data memory: 8KB RAM + 4KB ROM
Clock Frequency: 81 MHz
Performance: 64 simultaneous channels, ADPCM encoding
Sampling frequency: 48KHz
System floating point Arithmetic capability: 10.5GFLOPS (peak) (MPU, Geometry engine, HW lighting total)
Real-world polygon: 6 million to 12 million/polygons (peak) (assuming actual gaming conditions with complex models, fully textu

red, fully lit, etc
.
System memory: 40 MB
Main memory: 24 MB MoSys 1T-SRAM, approximately 10ns sustainable latency
A ? Memory: 16 MB (81 MHz DRAM)
Disc drive: CAV (constant angular velocity) system
Average access time: 128ms
Data transfer speed: 16Mbps to 25Mbps
Media: 3 inch NINTENDO GAMECUBE disc based on Matsushita's optical disc technology, approx, 1.5GB capacity.


Input/ Output: Controller port x4
Memory card slot x2
Analog AV Output x1
Digital AV Output x1
High-speed serial port x2
High-speed parallel port x1
Power supply: AC adapter DC12V x 3.25A
Main unit dimensions: 4.3? (H) x 5.9? (W) x 6.3? (D)


And so really if you understand any of that you'll realise that it's one hell of a good gaming system.

Basically when Nintendo set out to build this game platform they wanted something perfect, something different then the rest and it is my opinion that they achieved their goal remarkably well.

As soon as you set your eyes on the Gamecube's unique design you will realise how amazingly convenient and practical this is to have around the house as it is the smallest game console on the market (about a quarter size of a microwave), you can take this anywhere you want, whenever you want and however you want.

A gaming system is only as good as the games it plays, and believe me the games are brilliant. Nintendo Gamecube provides an ever-growing library of games to cater for all. Exclusive games and characters such as Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Pokemon only available on Nintendo consoles. There really will never be a wasted moment with your Gamecube. It's simple really; Nintendo Gamecube delivers the games you want to play.

With four controller ports, it's a console, which allows four players to join in t
he fu
n, and Nintendo is developing an online system (a bit like XBOX Live), which is on the market but with only one game to play online with (Phantasy star online: episode one and two), but I'm sure there will be more to come in the future.

The Nintendo Gamecube game disc is also an important feature holding an incredible 1.5 Gigabytes of information, but has a diameter of only three inches (half that of a normal disc). The disc drive and processor work together with awesome speed, making loading time unimaginably faster, and barely noticeable.

The Nintendo Gamecube controller provides the crucial connection between you and it. With two analog control sticks, a built-in vibrate feature, and flawless ergonomic design ensures that the controller feels and plays perfectly well. And those clever chaps at Nintendo have even invented Wavebird, a wireless controller that allows you to feel the joy and freedom of having a cord-free game.


On their own the Gamecube and the Gameboy advance are both are both powerhouse game systems, together they make a great team. Using the Nintendo Gamecube Gameboy advance cable, The Gameboy advance can be directly connected with the Gamecube. Allowing you to use the GBA as a controller or as an extra screen.

There is also a wide range of accessories that provide different uses. I've already explained Wavebird so I'll tell you about some more (including the online adapter because I didn't explain it clearly).


The Nintendo Gamecube and Gameboy player (available in June 2003) enables you to play more than 1000 games designed for the original Gameboy, Gameboy colour, Gameboy advance on your television through the Nintendo Gamecube!

The memory card 251 is an information storage device used to record information such as game progress, high scores and much more. The memory card 251 can store 251 "blocks" information, more than four times the capacity of
the memory
card 59. Memory cards are required for nearly all of the Nintendo Gamecube games that save progress, so please get one, the ones with more capacity are going to be more expensive so take that into account.

The component video cable supports component signal input with specially designed games, for the latest video technology including 480p progressive scan on high definition televisions.

The Modem Adapter (online thingy) enables online gameplay. The Modem adapter is planned to be 56 Kbs compatible, V.90. (That's all the information I can find)

The Broadband adapter enables online gameplay. The adapter is a network connector device designed to be compatible with broadband networks.

The Nintendo gamecube gives you A LOT for just £100 or so. If you want there are loads of offers and stuff, I got my Gamecube when it was released (it was £130 then)
And I got the Gamecube, four games, a memory card, 2 controllers and a steering wheel all for £260 and really it should of cost about £350. So look out for good offers.

When installing the Gamecube into the TV and electrical mains there are step-by-step instructions that will guide you. I found that it took me five minutes and so it's very easy for everybody (I'm usually stupid when it comes to that kind of stuff).

You'll also find that inserting the discs is easy as the top of the gamecube opens automatically so you can place the game disc in and take it out effortlessly.

The only problem with the Nintendo Gamecube (and it's not really much of a problem) is that it only comes in two colours, purple and black. And seeing as the XBOX and PS2 only comes in one colour it's even less of a problem.

In total I think that this game console beats PS2 (it's getting old), XBOX, and definitely PS1. Nintendo Gamecube is the console of the future.

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